When Two Stars Collide

02: Loathing

Rashid’s POV

He scrubbed his hands vigorously on his clothes, as if trying to wipe away the very feel of Heilith’s skin on his. He felt disgusted, revolted that he had to hold her hand, to pretend to care, to pretend she mattered to him.

Behind him, Ashirra wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his back. She was the only good thing in his life, the only person who was real.

They had just showered together. She insisted on it, and who was he to refuse? He was the luckiest man alive to have her. Their relationship was kept secret, hidden from the public eye and away from the industry, because it was pure, unlike everything else in his life.

Ashirra was simple, kind, genuine, and loyal. She was everything Heilith was not.

Heilith Rynessi Uchida was a liar, a cheater, loud, stubborn, and fake. In his eyes, she was the woman who had ruined lives three years ago. The news reports, the articles, the accusations that she was a homewrecker, a woman who used her body and her charms to destroy families and climb to the top, it was all true to him. Her previous company had defended her, claiming it was all slander, but Rashid knew what women like her were like. She was a woman who would do anything to get what she wanted.

He turned around to face the woman he loved, leaning down to press soft kisses along her neck. Her scent, sweet and natural, drove him crazy, washing away the stench of everything false in his world.

“You are the only one who makes my day beautiful, baby,” he whispered, capturing her lips with his. He heard the soft moan that escaped her throat as his hands wandered lower, touching her, claiming her.

“Rash… please… I’m close…” she breathed out, her voice sending shivers of desire through him.

“Not yet, baby,” he whispered against her ear, lifting her gently and carrying her to the bed. He made love to her slowly, passionately, proving to himself over and over again that she was the only one for him.

Afterward, he lay exhausted beside her, watching her sleep peacefully. She looked like a goddess, pure and innocent.

How many times had he told himself how lucky he was? A thousand times, and it still wasn't enough. He would never let anyone get in the way of what they had. Not even Heilith, the woman he was forced to work with, the woman he despised with every fiber of his being, his personal nightmare.

He pulled the duvet higher over Ashirra’s shoulder, making sure she was warm and comfortable before he quietly stood up from the bed. The room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of the lamp on the bedside table, and the steady rhythm of her breathing told him she was fast asleep, exhausted but happy. He stood there for a moment, watching her peaceful face, feeling that familiar surge of protectiveness and satisfaction. She was everything good in his life, untouched by the ugliness of the industry.

He walked toward the bathroom to freshen up, splashing cold water on his face to clear his head. The memory of touching Heilith’s hand earlier that evening still lingered on his skin, a phantom sensation that made him want to scrub himself raw all over again. Pretending to be in love with her, smiling at her, holding her hand for the cameras, it was all a performance he loathed with every breath.

His phone buzzed loudly against the marble counter, breaking his train of thought. He picked it up, seeing the name of his close friend on the screen.

“Hey man, you still up?” his friend’s voice came through, slightly raised over loud music in the background. “We’re at City Lights Club, come over. You’ve been working too hard lately, you need to unwind and loosen up a bit. It’s just us, no cameras, no fans, just drinks and good company.”

Rashid hesitated, glancing back toward the bedroom door where Ashirra slept soundly. He wanted to stay here, where everything felt right and safe, but the idea of getting out, of drinking away the frustration of having to pretend with Heilith all day, was tempting. He needed to get the image of her out of his head.

“Fine,” he muttered into the phone. “Give me an hour. I’ll be there.”

He dressed quickly in a simple black shirt and dark jeans, making sure to leave a note for Ashirra just in case she woke up. He kissed her forehead softly, careful not to disturb her, before leaving the apartment.

The club was alive with thumping bass and flashing lights when he arrived. The air smelled of expensive perfume, alcohol, and smoke. His friends waved him over to a private booth near the VIP section, and for a while, Rashid allowed himself to relax, drinking whiskey and laughing at their stories. He felt somewhat lighter, the tension from the day slowly melting away. But fate, it seemed, had a cruel sense of humor.

Glancing toward the entrance where the hallway led to the restrooms, he saw her.

Heilith.

She was standing near the doorway, her posture unsteady, clutching her small purse tightly. She looked nothing like the poised, glamorous woman he saw on television. Her hair was loose and messy, her coat slipping off one shoulder, and she was clearly intoxicated, swaying slightly on her feet.

Rashid felt his jaw clench instantly. Disgust rose in his throat. Of course, he thought bitterly. This is exactly where she belongs. Drunk in a club, looking for trouble or someone to take advantage of her. It fits her perfectly.

He was about to look away, to ignore her completely and pretend he never saw her, when he noticed two men step out from the shadows, blocking her path. They looked rough, drunk and leering, and the way they crowded her made his fists clench involuntarily.

“Hey beautiful, all alone?” one of them leered, reaching out to grab her arm. “You look like you need someone to take care of you.”

Heilith tried to pull back, her eyes wide and unfocused. “Let… let go of me… I’m leaving…”

“Come on, don’t be like that,” the other man sneered, grabbing her other arm and dragging her slightly toward the darker corner. “We just want to have some fun.”

Rashid’s feet moved before his mind could stop them. He hated her, he despised everything she stood for, but he couldn’t just stand there and watch her get manhandled right in front of him. It went against every instinct he had, no matter how much he loathed her character.

He stepped into their path, his large frame towering over both men, his face set in a terrifying, cold glare. “Let her go.”

The men froze, looking him up and down, recognizing the dangerous aura he gave off. “Mind your own business, man. She’s coming with us.”

“I said… let her go,” Rashid repeated, his voice low and deadly. He shoved one of them back hard enough to make him stumble. Realizing they wouldn’t win this fight, the two men cursed under their breath and retreated, disappearing into the night.

Heilith stood there, swaying, her eyes struggling to focus. She looked up at him, and for a moment, there was confusion in her gaze, before recognition hit her.

Rashid stared back at her, his expression icy and void of any warmth. He didn’t look like a hero saving a damsel in distress, he looked like a man who was annoyed to even be standing there. He straightened his jacket, his face hard and cold.

“Typical,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. “I should have known I would find you in a place like this. It really suits you, doesn't it? Hanging around bars at night, looking for attention or trouble. It’s exactly the kind of behavior I expect from someone like you.”

His words hit her harder than the hands of those men had. It was cruel, sharp, and intended to hurt. In his eyes, she was still that woman from three years ago, someone with no morals, someone who belonged in the dirt.

Heilith felt her throat tighten, tears pricking her eyes, but she bit her lip to keep them from falling. She looked down at the pavement, feeling small and worthless under his gaze. This was how he always saw her, how he always judged her.

She took a shaky breath, her voice barely a whisper, devoid of any argument or defense. She knew anything she said would just make him hate her more.

“I… I was just about to go home anyway,” she said softly, her tone flat and defeated. “I’m sorry you had to see that, or deal with me. It won’t happen again.”

She turned her back to him, stumbling as she tried to walk toward the exit. She looked so fragile, so unlike the confident woman on screen, but Rashid hardened his heart. It’s just an act, he told himself. Everything she does is an act.

He followed her out onto the street, mostly to make sure she didn’t cause a scene that would end up in the news, ruining both their reputations. She stood by the curb, waving her hand weakly to signal a taxi. When a car finally pulled over, she took a step forward, but her legs seemed to give way. She staggered dangerously, her body tilting backward, about to fall hard onto the concrete.

Instinct kicked in. His hand shot out, reaching toward her, ready to grab her arm to steady her. But just before his fingers could brush against her coat, he stopped dead.

He remembered the way he had scrubbed his hands earlier, trying to erase the feeling of her touch. He remembered the articles, the rumors, the accusations of how she used her body to get what she wanted. He remembered Ashirra, pure and true, waiting for him at home.

She’s not worth it, his mind screamed. She’s nothing but trouble.

He pulled his hand back abruptly, shoving it deep into his pocket, his face hardening again.

Heilith managed to catch her balance at the last second, grabbing the open door of the taxi. She looked back at him one last time, her eyes swimming with tears that she refused to let fall, a sad, empty look crossing her face before she climbed inside and closed the door.

As the car drove away, leaving him standing alone on the sidewalk, Rashid didn't feel like a hero. He just felt… regretful. Regretful that he had stepped in at all, regretful that he had wasted even a single second of his time on her. He turned back toward the club, his mind replaying her soft, defeated words over and over again.

He gritted his teeth, pushing the strange, uncomfortable feeling in his chest deep down where it belonged. He told himself it was just anger. It had to be. Because Heilith Rynessi Uchida was nothing but a mistake in his life, a nightmare he was forced to endure, and he would never let her, or the pain she pretended to feel, ever get close to him.